37 NoVA, DC Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards

VIRGINIA — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in DC and Virginia. Despite the hardships, more than 30 venues were still able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.

The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia. This year, 37 restaurants in the DC metro earned a nod from Wine Spectator.

More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners.

Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.

Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan's in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California.

Only one regional restaurant has earned the Grand Award: Fiola at 601 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. in Washington D.C.

"Fabio Trabocchi is a leading force in Washington, D.C.’s Italian restaurant scene," said the magazine. "A short stroll from the National Mall, his flagship venue brings superior Italian labels and authentic regional cuisine to the heart of the capital city."

Best Of Award Of Excellence Winners

• BLT Prime by David Burke, Trump International Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
• BLT Steak, 1625 I St. N.W.
• Barcelona Wine Bar, 1622 14th St. N.W.
• Barcelona Wine Bar, 12023 Town Square St., Reston, Virginia
• Barcelona Wine Bar, 3310 Wisconsin Ave., Washington D.C.
• Blue Duck Tavern, Park Hyatt, 201 24th St. N.W.
• Bourbon Steak, Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C., 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
• Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Ave. N.W. Washington
• Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, 950 I St. N.W. Washington
• Fiola Mare, 3050 K St. N.W. Washington
• Flight Wine Bar, 777 Sixth St. N.W. Washington
• Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, 750 15th St. N.W. Washington
• Le Diplomate, 1601 14th St. N.W. Washington
• Mastro's Steakhouse, 600 13th St., N.W. Washington
• Sushi Nakazawa, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington
• The Capital Grille, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington

Award Of Excellence Winners

• Chima Steakhouse, 8010 Towers Crescent Drive, Vienna, Virginia
• Eddie V's Prime Seafood, 7900 Tysons One Place, McLean, Virginia
• Fogo de Chão, 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington
• Fogo de Chão, 1775 Tysons Blvd., Suite 50, Tysons Corner, Virginia
• Jaleo, 480 Seventh St. N.W. Washington
• Jaleo, 2250 Crystal Drive, Crystal City, Virginia
• Minibar by José Andrés, 855 E St. N.W. Washington
• Morton's, The Steakhouse, 11956 Market St., Reston, Virginia
• K. Morton's, The Steakhouse, 1050 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Washington
• Pazzo Pomodoro, 118 Branch Road S.E., Vienna, Virginia
• Punjab Grill, 417 11th St. N.W. Washington
• Rare Steakhouse, 1595 I St. N.W. Washington
• Seasons 52, 7863L Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Virginia
• Succotash Restaurant, 915 F. Street N.W. Washington
• The Capital Grille, 1861 International Drive, McLean, Virginia
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room, 1201 F St. N.W. Washington
• The Palm Tysons Corner, 1750 Tysons Blvd., McLean, Virginia
• The Palm Washington DC, 1225 19th St. N.W. Washington
• Tuscarora Mill, 203 Harrison St. S.E., Leesburg, Virginia
• Zaytinya, 701 Ninth St. N.W. Washington

See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.